Ātltlāltēchihiyotl (AHTL-tlahl-teh-CHEE-hee-yohtl)
by hughpierre
Basic Information
Anatomy
An ātltlāltēchihiyotl is a colony of stingless jellyfish reliant on balloon-like structures that expand and tilt according to wind and surface currents to control movement. It cannot actively swim.
Genetics and Reproduction
Storm
Seasonal storms in the pearl sea can shred a colony into multiple fragments. But new ātltlāltēchihiyotl can grow, so long as all its component parts remain together in the smaller pieces. In this way, they require rough seas to reproduce.Growth Rate & Stages
Colonial Development
A single ātltlāltēchihiyotl is not a single organism. It is a colonial marine invertebrate of identical, but functionally specialized polyps. Each polyp undergoes a form of metamorphosis to specialize into different roles - feeding, defense or flotation - after budding from a common form. The developmental pathway is a coordinated metamorphosis across multiple entities acting as one. Cooler waters may delay development while warmer waters may accelerate it - sometimes at the cost of complete or proper differentiation. The early larva develops into a float sac, and from this, other polyps can bud off. As the colony matures, new polyps differentiate base on water temperature, salinity, nutrient availability and positional information within the colony.Dietary Needs and Habits
Over time, their tentacles can grow in length and complexity that allows the colony to prey effectively on small fish, sea slugs and plankton.
Additional Information
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Sea Spider
Ātltlāltēchihiyotl also serve as a mobile home for tiny transparent sea spiders that have taken up residence within their tentacles. Should the ātltlāltēchihiyotl be attacked by a predator, they emerge to relentlessly bite the aggressor with their feet. Fishermen initially believed that the tentacles were poisonous; as turtles, fish and some slugs would appear as if they had been burned or had a bloody rash.
Alternate NamePhantom Ocean Constructed Water-Land Floater on the Water Spirit of the Ocean
Geographic Distribution
HP: 136 ( 16d10+48 ) Speed: 0ft; swim 60ft Saving Throws: DEX +6, CON +9 Proficiency Bonus: +3 Skills: Abilities: |
Entry for Worldbuilding Summer Camp 2025
Answering: "A species that undergoes a metamorphosis"
In response to the prompt Describe a species with a symbiotic or parasitic relationship with another species.
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